Apparently all things must come to an end, including Vans Inc.’s Vans Warped Tour.
“I have been a very lucky person to have traveled across the country and sometimes around the world as one of the founders and producers of the Vans Warped Tour,” Kevin Lyman said in a statement on the tour’s website on Nov. 15.
“Today, with many mixed feelings, I am here to announce that next year will be the final, full cross-country run of the Vans Warped Tour. I sit here reflecting on the tour’s incredible history, what the final run means for our community, and look forward to what’s to come as we commemorate the tour’s historic 25th anniversary in 2019.”
The tour, an experiential marketing effort for the Costa Mesa-based apparel and footwear giant, showcased more than 1,700 bands over the past 23 summers. The 2017 Vans Warped Tour kicked off July 29 in Huntington Beach with stops in 27 cities and the 2017 Vans US Open of Surfing. It featured about 100 bands, including the Ataris, Sick of It All, GWAR, American Authors, CKY, Municipal Waste, Neck Deep, Strung Out, Andy Black, Creeper, Anti-Flag, Save Ferris and Hatebreed.
Lyman’s 4Fini Inc., a Pasadena-based event production and brand strategy firm, runs the tour. Vans signed on as a naming sponsor in 1996.
Tesla Travel
Travel Costa Mesa launched a campaign that invites guests to “indulge in the City of the Arts,” and travel to their destinations with Tesloop, a ride-sharing service provided in Tesla Model X vehicles and offering in-car Wi-Fi, healthy snacks and water.
Guests booking a two-night stay at one of the eight hotels—Avenue of the Arts, Ayres Hotel & Suites, BLVD Hotel, Crowne Plaza, Hilton, Marriott Costa Mesa, Residence Inn by Marriott and The Westin South Coast Plaza—will receive a $100 gift certificate for shopping and dining at South Coast Plaza or at the nearby Vaca restaurant through Jan. 7. The certificate can also be used to purchase show tickets at Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
CUV Ad(ded) Lineup
Innocean Worldwide Americas LLC in Huntington Beach, Hyundai Motor America Inc.’s advertising agency of record, will have its hands full—the automaker said it plans to launch “eight new or re-engineered crossover utility vehicles” in the U.S. by 2020. The effort begins with the debut of the Kona small CUV in March and will include small and large SUVs running on gasoline and diesel engines, as well as hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric technologies.
“Very soon we are going to have the most diverse CUV powertrain lineup in the industry,” Vice President of Product, Corporate and Digital Planning Mike O’Brien said in a statement. “These vehicles are aimed squarely at the sales leaders in each segment and will emphasize Hyundai’s continued focus on sustainability and efficiency without compromising performance.”
Innocean posted $274 million in revenue last year, up 7.5%. It employs 350, and also works with Finish Line, Foot Joy, Hankook Tire America, among others.
Influencing Data
Tru-Stats, a real-time data tracking startup in Irvine, has devised software that can verify “influencer followers, likes, and comment data” to help brands and ad agencies engage and monitor social influencer accounts “with minimal impact” from bot engines and other nonhuman traffic. Bots, according to Tru-Stats, generate “millions of falsified likes and followers daily, as well as posting false comments and click-through events.”
Bits & Pieces
The Westin South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa hired Tricia Eschle as director of sales and marketing. … OCPRSA and the American Advertising Federation are hosting Mingle & Jingle 2017, a dinner and drinks event, on Tuesday at Sgt. Pepperoni’s Pizza Store in Newport Beach. … Racer Media & Marketing Inc. in Irvine hired Hector Scarano as vice president of business development for all of the company’s platforms, including RACER.com. RACER and SportsCar magazines and its in-house agency, RACER Studio. “In the ever-changing landscape of media business and sales, his experience and established network is a great asset as we continue to evolve our business platforms, particularly on the digital and native content side,” founder and President Paul Pfanner said in a statement.
